Whitecaps’ Cannon knows he’s no 'keeper here: ‘Writing is on the wall for myself at this club’

Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun07.08.2013

Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Joe Cannon, shown at practice earlier this year, was the 2002 and 2004 Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year. Now, though, the 38-year-old Cannon is coming to grips with the fact is playing career is nearing its end.

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VANCOUVER — Joe Cannon knows his days with the Vancouver Whitecaps are probably numbered.

The veteran 38-year-old goalkeeper lost his starting job to Brad Knighton two months ago and Knighton is in red-hot form right now, playing the game of his life in the Caps’ 2-0 win over Seattle last weekend.

Add the fact the club recently signed Danish ’keeper David Ousted — who many see as the team’s long-term goalie solution — and that young Canadian international goalkeeper Simon Thomas will return to the team after the Gold Cup later this month and there’s the potential for four ’keepers on the team roster.

It’s not an ideal situation for Cannon, the 2002 and 2004 Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year.

"At first, it was such a letdown not to be named to the first team and it was almost confrontational," he said after sitting on the bench during the Caps’ win over Seattle. "I think the signing of the new goalie has actually alleviated a lot of the tension because the writing is on the wall for myself here at this club.

" … The future is probably with one of those guys. For me right now, it’s just a matter of figuring things out day by day."

Ousted and Knighton are both 28 years old while Thomas is just 23. Ousted’s salary isn’t known yet but he didn’t come cheap as the Caps traded away Alain Rochat to give themselves enough salary cap room to sign him.

Cannon will make about $190,000 this season while Knighton makes $66,000 and Thomas is on a contract that pays him just over $35,000.

Cannon stressed the club has been respectful of his situation and he’s currently considering one of three options for his immediate future.

He can stay in Vancouver and "grind it out" as one of four goalkeepers, he can look for a spot with another club or he can accept a front-office job with the Caps for the rest of this season.

Cannon and his wife, Marisa, who were married in January, have discussed his situation at length but he wouldn’t reveal which way he’s leaning.

"I just don’t know if I’m ready to give up on playing yet," Cannon said. "The best thing I can do is go out every day, work hard and keep pushing those guys. Now that David (Ousted) is available, it’s a whole new set of challenges — even mentally."

The Bay Area native has clearly adopted a positive attitude despite his awkward and tenuous situation with the Whitecaps.

He was the first player on the field before the pre-game ceremonies at the Caps-Sounders match and enthusiastically high-fived other players and team support staff as they approached the Whitecaps bench before kickoff.

"My job is to just make sure I don’t distract from what we’re trying to accomplish and try to add something because in the end, my career is going to be over in a year or two or three," Cannon said. "You’re going to look back and realize you had a choice — you didn’t have to be such a crabby guy."

He said he learned a huge lesson about selfless behaviour during his final season with San Jose in 2010, when the club brought in goalkeeper Jon Busch to challenge for the starting job and Busch made a sensational debut for the Earthquakes.

"Over the course of time, it was very confrontational and I think the way I approached it (wasn’t good)," Cannon said. "I had a chip on my shoulder … Even though I eventually got the job back in San Jose, it hurt the team because it was so confrontational and there was so much tension. I think it distracted from what we were trying to accomplish as a group."

Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi said the club would carry four goalkeepers until the end of the season if Cannon chooses to stay in Vancouver.

"We want to make sure we’re respectful of the fact he’s been in the league 16 years and want to try and accommodate what his desires are," he said.

Cannon, whose 341 career MLS starts puts him second all-time behind only Kevin Hartman’s 411 starts, knows he’s battling tough odds to grab a starting job at another MLS club at his age.

Hartman is still playing at age 39 but hasn’t made a single start for the New York Red Bulls this season and has even found it challenging to make the 18-man game day roster.

"I’m not going to somewhere just to complete a roster," Cannon said. " … But I feel I have a lot to offer any organization, with the experience I have and with everything I’ve learned and even all the stuff I’ve picked up here."

He said there are some "possibilities" with other MLS teams but understands he doesn’t generate the same interest from other clubs that he did when he was 30.

"I’ve been in the league 16 years now and you kind of have to look at it from a bigger picture," Cannon said. "There’s still a lot of success I’m planning on having in my life, whether it’s as a player or as something else. It’s going to happen."

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Whitecaps’ Cannon knows he’s no 'keeper here: ‘Writing is on the wall for myself at this club’

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